We all have to set them. I just so happen to set mine on two things. School & Travel.

Sure, I can AFFORD to have a car, rent my own place and eat out all the time.

but instead,

I choose to save my money by taking public transportation, getting a house with family to save on rent and make most meals at home (we do go out from time to time.)

All the money we save from foregoing these things, goes into our travel fund.

We're even saving so much money by getting a house with family members, that we will both be getting new (super fuel efficient) smart cars soon but will still be saving enough in other areas, that this will be cost effective for us.

We also don't overspend on eating out and novelties like coffees, shopping etc. We do every once in a while, but to us, that's just extra money being thrown away on calories we don't need and experiences we're missing out on.

2. Creative Thinking

We always try to find alternative methods for income.

One method (we are soon to try) is to use our cars for advertisements. Companies will pay you to advertise for them on your own vehicle, and they will pay monthly for it. You can receive up to $500 a month per vehicle doing this. More than enough to offset the cost of gas and even your car payment.

I also do freelance illustrating, graphic design & teaching locally. These are small odd jobs, but it's something to add to the travel pot.

3. Flexibility

When thinking about where we want to go next, I take to the internet.

I search peak travel times in the countries we want to visit and look for the off season times when prices are going to be lower.

Use tools like Skyscanner's anywhere/everywhere (just type in everywhere in the destination box) tool to search all flights leaving your city. Ultimate flexibility to be had here.

Because of this, we usually end up travelling in the fall. Climates are cooler, not as many kids because they're all in school and lower prices makes for a great vacation.

We also remain flexible by not tying our finances down into things like buying a house. It is definitely a part of the "American Institution of Tradition" for young people, when they reach a certain income level or point in their lives, to buy a house.

Maybe this was a viable investment 20-30 years ago, but today it's fucking stupid.

The US housing market has not quite recovered from the recession. You are essentially tying up your hard earned money in something that is depreciating rapidly (depending on your market.) You might get lucky, your house could appreciate and you might make a profit in a few years, but most likely, you'll just barely tread water or break even.

If you don't sell it, that's 30 years of debt and upkeep to deal with on top of everything else...like student loans.

We've worked really hard to keep our debt to just our student loans and cars because putting yourself in a lifetime of debt like that makes no sense (to me.)

I'm just speaking from a lower middle class perspective. Travel isn't impossible if you lay the ground work now.

4. Be Realistic

We don't stay in the poshest hotels and resorts when we travel. We certainly don't stay in rat infested hovels, but in order to travel more, we sacrifice extreme luxury. All the places we've stayed at overseas and here at home have been perfectly adequate and lovely to us even though I'm sure most people would turn up their noses upon first glance. In fact, some of them turned out to be wayyy better than we expected.

If you really want to travel, but feel like you can't unless you stay in that super expensive hotel, I guess you'll be waiting for a while then won't you?

Obviously, my way is not the one size fits all method. I'm sure a lot of people will read this and think we are goddamn lunatics that live like hobos.

We don't. We are happy with this arrangement & the freedom it affords us to travel. Anyone can cut corners to put $ into a travel fund, it just takes action rather than wishful thinking.

Feel free to ask me any questions in the comments and check out some budgeting resources below as well.

Ireland: Where their (debatably) oldest pub is older than my entire country, was surprisingly, a fluke in our travel plans.

It was really, originally, just the cheapest place to fly into, so we decided that if we had to fly in, we might as well spend some time there.

Dublin ended up being our favorite stop of the entire trip.

Rainy Irish Morning

We flew into Dublin just before Christmas 2013.

It's weather was very similar to The Pacific Northwest, so we felt right at home. I didn't feel like I was going to get mugged just walking around like most tourists fear on their first foreign excursion. Even in the wee dark hours of the morning or late at night. The city is pretty damn safe.

We took a tour of the Eastern Irish Coast and drove along winding narrow roads with our guide (who could have freakin qualified for the Indy 500 with all of his driving skills. Dude was insane. In a good way.)

We made it to this stop along Loch Lorne as a storm was rolling in.

Loch Lorne, Northern Ireland

Eventually, after 6 hours of Driving north and seeing the very separated Protestant vs. Catholic towns & other interesting sights

That's a Rainbow in Ireland, Folks.

East Coast of Ireland by Carrick a Rede

The Crumbling Dunluce Castle. Northern Irish Coast

We made it to The Giant's Causeway

The Causeway is made up of columns of Basalt (iron rich volcanic rock)

You can see the same phenomenon in The Gorge in Washington and on the 84 outside of Portland, Or.

Me standing below one of the taller sections at The Causeway.

We just barely missed a Hurricane at the coast (and we ended up having to leave a group of 3 people from our tour there at The Causeway because they never showed back up...)

and drove 6 hours back to Dublin.

The next day, we decided to walk around the city and see Dublin Castle

Ballroom Decorated for Christmas

Beautiful Dublin Castle Gardens & Our Reflections

They built the gardens because it was formerly a bog and they couldn't build anything else on it. I like this better, personally.

We also made our way down to Trinity College Library

Real Life Hogwarts

I got the same feeling walking into Wizarding World in Orlando, that I did walking into this Library.

Dublin is absolutely magical. It has a pulse and feeling to it that I could never possibly describe accurately.

Except on Sunday's before 12pm. The city is apocalypse deserted before then and almost everything is closed.

So much history & old world magic merges with the new but they found a way to integrate with it, without destroying it (unlike the US.)

I could wander around Ireland forever and still not see enough.

So if you're on the fence about it and if my endorsement means anything, GO.

﻿Almost always, restaurants and shops around the areas most frequented by our countrymen are over priced. They know how to play the game and they will often try to hassle you or talk you into making a purchase.

Don't. Be polite, but firm and walk away if you don't feel comfortable.

Look around some. Chances are you'll find the exact item for cheaper in a grocery store or likewise elsewhere.

If you don't, go back and get it. No big deal.

Getting Mugged

﻿Be aware of your surroundings.

Movies like "Taken" were based on SOMETHING. It has happened and it could happen.

Don't go out alone at night. If you do it anyway, always let someone know where you are going, for how long and how you are getting there. Walk in well lit areas, near large groups of people.

Walk with your eyes directed straight ahead. Walk with purpose. If someone harasses you, keep walking like you have serious business to get done. Your confidence and direct path will (usually) steer the hecklers away from you. You clearly mean business, I ain't gon mess with that.

Attend your bags. Don't leave them slung on a chair at a restaurant or absent mindedly unzipped at the museum. You are a pick pocket's wet dream. Rich stupid american with all your fancy gadgets. Don't let em be right! Happy to report that I bought this bag for our Europe trip and it is fantastic. I use it every day now.

Paying Insane Luggage Fees

﻿The Europeans do not have the same carry on dimension bin sizes as we do in The US. They are much smaller....annoyingly so.

I bought a standard carry on size roll-y hard case bag to take with us to Europe and ended up having to check it on every flight we had over there.

This cost a lot. Don't do this.

Now I know, to carry a back pack and not over pack a million clothes into a suitcase. Just take the basics. Mix and match. Buy something if you need it while over there.

Having Your Identity Stolen

﻿I was worried about this when we went to Europe as I had heard of people using RFID scanners to scan your unprotected passport and glean your info off it to be used to commit dastardly deeds of evil in your name.﻿

This is a giant load. The only info on your passport they could get IF they could (the scanners only work from about 10 inches away) would be the info already publicly available. They can't get your social security ID because it's not in the passport...

That doesn't mean you shouldn't still worry. Keep a close eye on your passport and don't leave it laying around in your hotel room.

Photo copy it and store it online on dropbox or a similiar cloud application in case your real passport is stolen, so it can be accessed from the embassy or a personal computer (assuming they didn't make off with that too...)

Don't just assume you got the best deal. Continue to watch hotel rates until the night before your stay. Compare on different sites. If you see the rate go down (significant or not) call the hotel and let them know that you'd like to take advantage of the new rate you saw. Usually, (so far) they will have no problem. Sometimes though, you might have to cancel your reservation and re-book under the new rate.

Also, Don't be afraid to ask for free upgrades! When we went to Disneyland last year, we stayed off property at a hotel called The Desert Palms right next to the park. When we arrived to check in, I (being friendly, not insistent) asked if they had any free upgrades available. We were upgraded to a suite facing the parks so we could see the fireworks for no extra charge.

Being friendly went a long way, and I never expected her to give us anything. I just took the chance and asked. I should note that we were there in what is considered the "off season" in September, so it's likely this will not work during the peak of summer time when rooms are more likely to be full, but go for it anyway!

Getting Sick

﻿You can be smart (unlike me) and completely avoid sickness while traveling.

Don't eat pre-packaged, cooked food from the little foreign super market that's on sale at the end of the day...

I did this. It was a chicken and veggies dish made in a supermarket called Sainsbury's in London. I didn't cook it long enough in the microwave, since I am accustomed to eating food not molten lava hot at home. BIG MISTAKE.

Within 6 hours, I was violently (and painfully) ill. I puked and shat my guts out for 2 more weeks before getting home and finally finding out I had gotten a type of Salmonella poisoning that was eventually treated by an antibiotic used to kill ANTHRAX... Yeah.

See your Dr about necessary vaccinations & antibiotics before leaving.

We are going to Playa Del Carmen, Mexico in September. Internet sleuthing has shown me that the area is at risk for Malaria and Yellow Fever. We are considering Yellow Fever vaccinations, but Malaria is rare (unless in the jungle at Sun rise or Sun set when the nasty skeeters are out.)

Bringing Kids (Unless it's Disney, of Course)

Look, we're just going to let this out of the bag now. I am not a fan of kids. Now, with that said, I'm sure you love em. You squeezed em out and somehow, it's gone from a little lumpy potato to a zany mini-you that can be pretty cool sometimes...and pretty uncool sometimes. We all know, it's ok.

Don't bring your kids to the ultra adult oriented spa getaway. You're gonna have a bad time. The facilities were not made for them and I'm willing to bet that the other adults would not appreciate your kid, even though I'm sure they're an angel, they won't be one 100% of the time. Why do that to yourself?

Take a vacation away from them sometimes. It's cool, nobody will think you're a neglectful, evil parent. In fact, the time away can help you re-establish the bond with your partner (or even yourself, sans partner.) Which can only be good for the little ones.

Getting Busted in (US) Customs

﻿This is not very hard to do whether you've done something wrong or not.

Not declaring food is a big one. Fresh or no, if they catch you with it, that's a $300 fine. Yes, they're fucking serious and no, they don't have a sense of humor about it (trust me on this one.)

Coming Home with too many Souvenirs. The US Govt. doesn't allow you to come here with more than $800 in souvies and merch "duty free" from another country unless you want to pay taxes on it. Keep an eye on that.

Visiting a Farm or Being around Livestock They don't want you tracking in germs with you, especially if your hand was in any animal orifices. They will ask, and I hope to whatever deity you revere that you tell them the truth. I'm not dealing with a Zombie Apocalypse because of you, man.

Getting Arrested

I haven't gotten arrested...yet but I think it goes without saying that you really should avoid this one at all costs, lest you become the next headline on CNN. In the event that you get arrested abroad you should:

Ask to speak to a consular officer at the American embassy or consulate. It is your right under international agreements to receive assistance from your government. So, be polite, but insistent, and keep asking until you are placed into contact with an American official.

Please note that the Embassy can get you assistance, but they cannot get you out of Prison or give you preferential treatment. You are in another country and must abide by their laws, regardless of your citizenship.

Here is a full version of what the US will do for Incarcerated Americans Abroad

Not Taking A Chance While You Can

Travel is a gift that so few take the opportunity to afford to themselves.

I always told myself that I wanted to travel while I was young. I wanted to experience the world first and then carry those experiences with me into my old age as my battle armor. When you are on a trip, you worked so hard for it! Don't waste that opportunity to step outside your shell. I'm not saying go bungy jumping on that sketchy ass rope bridge outside Bangkok or run from the bulls like a crazy person.

I'm telling you to learn something new about yourself or the world.

My first attempt to step outside my shell was to try (very key word here) to get over my extreme fear of heights by crossing the Carrick a Rede rope bridge in Northern Ireland last Christmas.

I didn't know this before I crossed it obviously, but I was fine until I got to it. You descend a little staircase (let's be honest, it was a thin slippery steel LADDER welded into the side of the rock face and I started crying on the 3rd step down when my foot just barely slipped a half inch, but I continued on) to the thin slat bridge. Sure, it's steel wiring, but that doesn't comfort you much when the gusts pick up and you're left bobbing and swaying like a kite in the wind 98' over a watery grave.

I cursed at and moved inch by inch towards the other side while my husband (very kindly) tried not to burst out laughing at me.

Took a lot of my courage to go back across it. I scrambled up the fucking ladder on my hands and knees and RAN away in the opposite direction hoping to never set foot on it again.

It was scary, but I lived to tell you all the tale of how (much of a pussy) brave I was for 5 minutes in Ireland.

Framing Travel Postcards
A travel tradition Han and I started is to buy our favorite postcard from the cities/countries we have visited together and find a unique salvaged frame to match it with to hang on our wall back home.

This beats having to think ﻿of ways to bring b﻿ack those, though super neat, oddly shaped and fragile chotchkies (I had to look up how to spell this word because I've never actually seen it written down. It's an old yiddish word used to describe useless decorative objects...ha) back from our journey's (especially abroad.)I salvagw)ord

I salvaged all the frames from the local Value Village. (essentially a smaller Goodwill) and there are always surprises to be found there every time I go, like that Paris frame up there. $1.99. And look at how the Seven have blessed me with that frame for Florida! I am overly excited about that one.

Had to do a little tearing and bending of some nails to get some of these to fit, but overall it wasn't too bad of a process.

Fun way to show your friends and family where you've been and I can't wait to add to it. Next addition to the wall: Chicago and Mexico!

Seattle is that overcast city on the West Coast where coffee runs in it's people veins and the rain never stops.

I'd say that's a pretty accurate description of Seattle about 350 days out of the year but during the dead of summer, it's actually pretty damn beautiful.

The crowd of tourists flocking to the quickly growing wall o' nasty crud.

Han and I decided to take a day trip to Seattle last summer for our anniversary (on my prompting.) I had heard that Seattle's Underground was far more impressive than Portland's Shanghai Tunnels (Terribly disappointing and I do not recommend that tour to anyone, especially someone who pays to travel to Portland.)

We walked around the Market a bit (don't have any photos for this post because it was crazy crowded the day we went. No time or room to take photos inside.) and then walked down to Pioneer Square to buy tickets for the Underground Tour.

The tour itself starts in Seattle's First Saloon. They give a brief history, and then you walk outside to the first entrance. Down a murky set of stairs in a dilapidated building...

The first saloon.

Alleyway with the sinking asphalt...I wonder why?

Oh, that's why.

Seattle, the original one, is underneath the current one. Poor city planning and flooding led to the city rebuilding the streets above the old mess. Some stores still existed on the ground level though and shoppers were forced to climb down ladders to get to them

They built these into the sidewalks above to light the way for shoppers below. I've seen these in Portland and San Francisco.

Old Storefront

Outside the Grand Oriental Hotel.

The underground was very cool. We exited and entered from several different buildings in the downtown area.

I definitely recommend it if you go to Seattle. Tickets were $14 a piece for students. The tour involves a few tight spaces. (I'm claustrophobic and I was fine.)

You are underground and the floor is pretty (very) uneven in spots. May not be best for the elderly, immobile and I really don't recommend any young children (I'm talking infants- maybe age 6. Kids older than that should be able to navigate ok with supervision and have some semblance of manners if they weren't raised by cave men, which they weren't so you're golden right?).

Seattle is beautiful any time of year, but I liked it best in the Summertime.

I see a lot of people who have never really traveled ask questions like "Well where the hell do I even start?!"

It's super simple.

I will walk through the steps of how I go about planning Han and I's trips. Whether they be small inter country trips or big overseas adventures.

Budget

Firstly, How much money do you have/want to spend on this trip? This will determine EVERYTHING. Timing, flights, hotel, food, activities etc.

Example: Our first trip to Europe/UK was on what you would call a "budget." We booked flights in the off season (typically August-February) as it's typically cheaper than the high season (about March-July) to Dublin, Ireland as it was the cheapest place to fly in to at the time. We flew in to Dublin Dec. 16 & flew out the 30th. Tickets were $846 per person.

Pick Your Destination

Since your budget is the biggest factor, this should be a no brainer. You pick and you are super excited to start. (I know, I've been there.)

(If you need to) Secure Travel Documents

Probably goes without saying, you can't travel internationally (if that's your goal) without a passport from your country of citizenship. Getting one is a pretty long process and a little pricey (last year, cost was $135 total) Be very careful when applying as any information that is wrong or off can put your application in purgatory for a while. (Apparently, the US Government does not accept State ID's as valid Identification in lieu of a Liscense...This caused a rejection of my application the first time. I had to submit a whole slew of documentation proving I was indeed a US citizen and not a terrorist, but that's a story for another blog post.)

Look up Transportation

Transportation is usually the most expensive portion of our trips and therefore the first thing I book to make it as cheap as possible. However you choose to get there, you need to do some research. No ONE website will be your hail mary for all travel unfortunately...I spend many hours tirelessly combing the internet for flights on websites like

I then continue to monitor the websites for a few weeks to see how much the price fluctuates. Make sure you do this in Incognito Mode. These websites often have tracking cookies that store information to load the site faster, but it also tells them that you've been there before and it will cause them to raise the price on you every time they find you checking them out. Incognito prevents them from storing cookies, so you see the real fluctuations.

Lodging

I usually end up booking our lodging separately from transportation because so far while doing my research, it's been cheaper to do that than book a package. It's not Always cheaper though. Our upcoming trip to Cancun, Mexico was booked as a package through Priceline and it ended up being significantly cheaper than booking separately as I usually do. The only way I knew this was from a lot of research. I highly recommend using

Booking.com -typical hotel booking site. Cheapest is my experience.

Airbnb -pay to stay in entire apartment or a room in someone's home. Great opportunity to meet locals and get inside experience

Couch Surf -this is by far the cheapest method. Stay free in someone's home. May not be on some people's comfort levels but a great way to make friends and be immersed in local culture.

Travel Insurance

I am a huge advocate of having travel insurance for overseas trips. Domestic trips...well it tends to be kind of a waste for us because we have health insurance and it works at any emergency room but Internationally, it is an absolute must. I got extremely ill on our first trip to London this last Christmas. Ended up bedridden and in terrible pain for the next two weeks until we got home and I immediately went to the ER. I WAS STUPID and I will not let you be. Just buy the damn insurance. Better to have it and not need it than need it and blah blah ya know? I got sick in fucking London, England. It can happen anywhere.

Keep a Spreadsheet or folder for all your travel info

I keep a rolling spreadsheet of expenses and bookings on my laptop. Once I book the transportation. I put the relevant information into a spreadsheet to keep track of cost and to make sure I don't forget anything (like the time I accidentally screwed up our flight date from London to Paris...and that was even WITH an organized spreadsheet.)I place all things that need to be printed (confirmations, tickets etc.) in a folder on my desktop and get it all printed out before we leave and carry it around with me in a thin folder in my backpack. This may seem a little "analog" but you never know what will happen to your electronics and then you'd be lost. Better to have a back up.Sometimes bookings you make on "Third Party Sites" (this is usually the term given to websites like priceline, kayak, expedia and all those assorted travel deals sites) may not get accurately recorded or a glitch in the matrix will happen and you'll be very glad to have your good ol' paper back ups to prove your bookings are legit.

Double/Triple Check all dates and Confirmation Codes

This is pretty important. I try to do this a week or so before we actually begin the trip to make sure that I haven't forgotten anything. I call our lodging and the airlines to make sure we are all good on that front.

Have a fucking blast!

Now stop worrying and go have fun! You just spent a lot of time and money planning this biz. Enjoy it. If anything bad happens, you have the travel insurance to fall back on. :)